Display package



7, 1956 M. L. DEITZ 2,757,793

DISPLAY PACKAGE Filed Oct. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/G./ FIG. 2

IN VEN TOR. MACE 1.. 05/72 ATTORNEYS Aug. 7, 1956 M. L. DEITZ DISPLAY PACKAGE Filed Oct. 12, 1954 lilml INVENTOR.

MACE L. 05/ T2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent DISPLAY PACKAGE Mace L. Deitz,YSouth Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Sani-Speed Mfg. 'Co., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October '12, '1954, Serial No. 461,743 8 Claims. (Cl. 206-78) This invention relates generally to display packages, but has reference more particularly to display packages for ball point pens and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a display package of the character described, in which the articles which comprise a part of the package are attractively displayed, without being too easily detachable or removable from the package, thereby rendering the articles virtually pilfer-proof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display package of the character described, which is readily adapted to bear imprinted advertising matter thereon, so that the package is a self-service package which readily lends itself to selling in merchandise establishments such as grocery chain stores, supermarkets, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide a display package of the character described which is characterized by a cardboard front having contoured openings therein and by the use of a molded element having a bulged out portion which projects through and above the opening in the cardboard front.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a display package of the character described which is characterized by cardboard front and rear layers, and a molded element having flanges which are frictionally retained between said layers and are not adhesively secured to either layer.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the inner portion of one form of the display package;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the sub-assembly which is used in conjunction with the aforesaid inner portion to form the display package; I

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the completed display package;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; g

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, takenon the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 ofFig. 3; I V a Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken. on the line 99 of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but of a modified form of sub-assembly for a modifieddisplay package;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but of the modified 12--12 of Fig. 11, and

ice

2 Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 11.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive of the drawings, the package will be seen to comprise an inner portion generally designated by reference numeral 1.

and consisting of a single piece of relatively stiff cardboard bent or folded to provide a front 2 and a back 3, the front overlying the back and having an upper portion 4 which extends several inches beyond the upper edge 5 of the back.

The front is provided with spaced openings 6 and 7, which are contoured to receive the articles to be displayed, in this case, two ball point pens 8 and 9.

Disposed between the front 2 and back 3 is a rectangular piece of transparent plastic 10, preferably thin, flexible, cellulose acetate or similar plastic material, having portions thereof formed or molded, as by a vacuum forming or molding process, to provide protuberances 11 and 12 which are shaped as closely as possible to conform to the shape of the ball point pens which are to be received in the recesses or cavities formed by the protuberances. These protuberances, moreover, have a peripheral contour such that they readily enter and extend through and conform relatively closely to the peripheral contour of the openings 6 and 7 respectively.

In thus assembling the pens with the sheet 10, it is desirableto attach a strip 13 of transparent Scotch tape to the undersurface of the sheet 10, in such a manner that portions of this strip extend across the recesses in the protuberances 11 and 12 and are adhesively secured to the pens. This not only facilitates handling of this subassembly consisting of the sheet 10 and the pens, but prevents the pens from rotating about their axes at any time during shipment of the package, or while the package is being handled during manufacture of the package or during examination of the package by a prospective purchaser,

The sub-assembly, consisting of the sheet 10 and the pens, is then inserted between the front 2 and back 3, and in such a manner that the protuberances 11 and 12 extend through the openings 6 and 7 respectively.

The front and back may then be stapled together, as by means of staples 14 and 15, so as to preclude separation of the front from the back during subsequent handling of the package. In this condition of the package, the front and back are in contiguity with the sheet 10, and the sheet 10 cannot shift, since the protuberances 11 and 12 extend into and closely fit the openings 6 and 7.

Since the pens are clearly visible through the protuberances 11 and 12, the parts thus assembled may constitute the display package, in its entirety, and may be sold, as such. However, it is usually desirable to have display advertising matter on the package or associated with the article carried by the package, and since the cardboard parts 1 and 2 usually have a rough surface which is not susceptible of being satisfactorily imprinted with such advertising matter, the package will usually include an outer-envelope of paper which may be satisproject forward through the openings 16 and 17.

The package is then completed by placing a folded tab 18 over the upper edge of the front 2 of the inner portion of the package, and securing said tab to the upper portion of the body 15 of the envelope and to the upper portion of the front 2 by means of staples 19. The tab 18 thus closes the envelope and the staples 19 secure the inner portion of the package to the envelope.

The package, as thus assembled, includes at least two novel features, namely (1) the use of a molded piece having a bulged out portion which projects through and above the opening in the cardboard front 2, and is contoured to fit the opening, and (2) the provision of base flanges on the molded piece, which flanges are frictionally retained between cardboard layers, and are not adhesively secured to either layer.

The package, as thus manufactured, is a self-service, pilfer-proof package. It is a self-service package because it readily lends itself to selling in merchandise establishments such as grocery chain stores and supermarkets. By placing the package in places readily accessible to the homemaker, who does most of the family buying, and at a realistic price, the package becomes an impulse purchase for a necessity when the homemaker is shopping for groceries.

The package is pilfer-proof, to a great extent, because people who would normally not hesitate to pick up a small item, such as a pen, and place it in the pocket, will hesitate to pick up a large display package, from which the pen cannot be removed, without virtually destroying the package.

The package, moreover, is a self-display package, which, on this account alone, has immense sales appeal.

In Figs. to 13 inclusive, there is shown a modification of the invention, in which the sheet 10 of the previously described form of the invention has been replaced by two sheets of plastic, a top sheet 10a and a bottom or backing sheet 10b.

The top sheet 10a is preferably of thin, transparent, flexible, cellulose acetate having the central portion thereof formed or molded to provide a protuberance 20 which is shaped generally as a rectangular enclosure for a pair of pens 21 and 22. The protuberance 20, moreover, has a peripheral contour such that it readily enters and extends through and conforms relatively closely to the peripheral contour of an opening 23 in the front 24 of a cardboard member similar to the member 2, 3 of the previously described form of the invention.

The bottom or backing sheet 10!) is preferably made of a thin, flexible, plastic material similar in thickness to the sheet 10a, but non-transparent and in any one of a variety of colors. The sheet 10b has the central portion thereof formed or molded to provide a protuberance 25 which telescopically fits into the protuberance 20 and is shaped to provide a bottom or base 26 having elongated recesses 27 and 28 for the pens 21 and 22. The bottom or base 26 is spaced from the front wall of the protuberance 20 to an extent sufficient to provide just enough space to accommodate the pens 21 and 22. The protuberance 25 thus becomes a support for the pens, as well as a background of contrasting color with the color of the pens, thereby increasing the sales appeal of the package.

In order to prevent the pens 21 and 22 from rotating about their axes or becoming dislodged from the recesses 27 and 28 during assembly, shipment or handling of the package, it is desirable to secure a thin strip 29 of transparent Scotch tape to the upper surface of the sheet 10b, and in such a manner that portions of the strip extend across and are adhesively secured to the pens.

In all other respects, the package of Figs. 10 to 13 is the same or similar to that of the previously described form of the invention.

Although the invention has been particularly described with reference to its use as a display package for ball point pens and the like, it will be understood that the package readily lends itself to the display and sale of other articles, such as belts, jewelry, etc., and is not to be regarded as in any sense limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a. display package of the character described, layers of a relatively stiff material, one superimposed upon the other, the upper layer having an opening therein, a sheet of transparent plastic material interposed between said layers and having a protuberance formed thereon having a contour shaped to fit said opening and extending through and above said opening, said protuberance adapted to receive an article to be displayed, and an outer envelope in which said layers and plastic sheet are disposed, said envelope conforming in outline to the outline of said layers, said envelope having an opening in its front face corresponding in size and shape with the opening in said upper layer, and being in registration with the latter opening, said protuberance extending into and through said envelope opening, said envelope also having on its front face advertising matter relating to the article to be displayed.

2. A display package, as defined in claim 1, in which said outer envelope comprises a lower or body portion into which said layers and sheet are adapted to be slipped and having an opening at the top thereof, and a folded tab secured to said layers and to the upper end of said lower portion of the envelope for closing the envelope.

3. A display package, as defined in claim 2, in which said tab is secured to the layers and to the body portion of the envelope by means of staples, whereby the contents of the envelope are secured to the outer envelope.

4. In a display package of the character described, layers of relatively stiff material, one superimposed upon the other, the upper layer having an opening therein, two sheets of plastic material interposed between said layers, and each having a protuberance thereon having a contour shaped to fit said opening, and each protuberance extending through and above said opening, one of said protuberances having a front face which is fiat but has a depression therein contoured to form a receptacle for a portion of an article to be displayed, and the other of said protuberances having a fiat front face spaced from the first protuberance, whereby a space is formed for the remainder of said article.

5. A display package, as defined in claim 4, in which the sheet which has a depression therein is non-transparent and is colored to form a background of contrasting color with that of the article, and the other sheet is transparent.

6. A display package, as defined in claim 4, including an outer envelope in which said layers and plastic sheets are disposed, said envelope conforming in outline to the outline of said layers, said envelope having an opening in its front face corresponding in size and shape with the opening in said upper layer and being in registration with the latter opening, said protuberances extending into and through said envelope opening, said envelope also having on its front face advertising matter relating to said article.

7. A display package, as defined in claim 6, in which said outer envelope comprises a lower or body portion into which said layers and sheets are adapted to be slipped and having an opening at the top thereof, and a folded tab secured to said layers and to the upper end of said lower portion of the envelope for closing the envelope.

8. A display package, as defined in claim 7, in which said tab is secured to the layers and to the body portion of the envelope by means of staples, whereby the contents of the envelope are secured to the outer envelope. 1

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,494,006 Morrison May 13, 1924 2,557,794 Nicolle June 19, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 958,491 Franco Sept. 12. 1949 

